Bicycle propelling mechanism.



Patented sept. n, |900.

E. L. HOLMES. BICYCLE PROPELLING MEGHANISM.

lApplcation ed Feb. 23, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

ma Nunsus PETERS co.. Fumo-nina.. wmncron, a4 c.

Patented Sept. ll, |900.

E. L. HOLMES.

BICYCLE PROPELLI'NG MECHANISM.

{Application led. Feb. 23, 1900.)

2 Sheets--Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

m: mums PETER: Co, Puoioumo., wnsumoron; o. c.

UNtTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. HOLMES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

BICYCLE PROPELLING IVIECHNISIVI.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 657,772, dated September1 1, 1900.

Application filed February 23, 1900. Serial No. 6,293. No model.)

To all whom, t may concern.-

Beit known that I, EDWARD L. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and a residentof Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in BicyclePropelling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates particularly to the gearing and bearings forbicycle propelling mechanism. Its main objects are, first, to avoid thejar to the rider which is incident to the use of the ordinary chainlessgear; second, to diminish the friction on gears of this class, and,third, to equalize the wear upon the pins on which the roller gear-teethare mounted. I accomplish these objects by the mechanism shown in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a horizontal sectionthrough the gear-casing of a bicycle constructed according to myinvention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged section of the forward end of thetransmitter-shaf t, its bearings, and the gear mounted thereon. Fig. 3is an end elevation of the spider for locking the pins upon which theroller gear-teeth are mounted. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the largegear carried by the crank-shaft. Fig. 5 is a perspective view, partlybroken away, showing the grooved side of one of the gear-teeth shown inFig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section through one of the roller gear-teeth andpart of the spider engaging the head of the pin. Fig. 7 is an enlargeddetail section of the rear end of the transmitter-shaft, its bearings,and one end of the rear hub.

The device consists mainly of the crankaxle l, the main gear 2, mountedthereon, the transmittershaft 3, having the gear 5 at its forward endand the gear 6 at its rear end,`

the hub 7 having the gear 8 meshing with said gear 6 and the casing andbearings, all of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

The main gear 2 has its hub 9 keyed to the shaft l. A ring l0 is securedto said hub by means of the resilient arms 11. The gearteeth l2 aremounted on the ring l0. Each of said gear-teeth has a groove 13 in oneside for contact with the roller gear-teeth 14 of the gear 5. The gear 5is rigidly secured to the shaft 3 by means of the key 15 and lock-nutIlb'. The spider 17 is secured between the gear 5 and nut 16. Saidspider is shown in Fig. 3 and is keyed to the shaft by means of theprojections 18. rlhe arms 1E) of said `spider rest in grooves in theheads 2O of the `pins 2l. The pins 21 are seated in the forks 22 of thegear 5. Each of said pins carries a lball or roller 23 and is grooved at24. The purpose of this groove is to lessen the friction and also tocontain a lubricant. The grooves 13 in the teeth l2 serve to center theballs or rollers 23 on the pins 2l, and thus avoid any friction betweenthe ends of said rollers and the forks 22. The gear 6 on the rear end ofthe shaft 3 is provided with roller-teeth similar to those on the gear5. A spider 25 serves the same purpose as the spider 17 and is similarlysecured upon its end of the shaft. The gear 8 is provided with teeth 26,which are similar in structure to the teeth l2, the same also havingagroove for centering the rollers in the gear G. The gear 8 is rigid onthe hub 7, which carries the drive-wheel 27 of the bicycle.

Referring to Fig. 2, 28 represents a bearing-shell, which is secured tothe casing 29 by means of pins 30. Theshell 3l issecured tothe shaft 3by means of the key l5 and, cbacting with the shell 28, provides thefourpoint bearing for the balls 32. Felt washers 33 and 34 are heldbetween the shells 28 and 3l. The spider 35 has arms 36 extending overthe ange 37 on said shell 28.

Referringt-o Fig. '7, the spider 25 is rigidly secured upon the gear 6by means of the locknut 52. The gear 6 is keyed upon the shaft 3 and hasthe lock-nut 53 secured against its outer face. The rear bearing of theshaft 3 consists of the shell 54., which is rigidly secured to thecasing 55, the balls 56, and the shell 57, which is rigidly secured tosaid shaft 3. A spider 58 is keyed to the shaft and secures the Vshell57 against rotation by means of the pin 59. A lock-nut 60 is threadedupon the shaft against said spider and shell. The shell 6l is rigidlysecured to the hub 7. rlhe shell 62 is rigidly secured upon the shaft63, extending through said hub. A lock-nut 64 acts against the shell 62and a lock-nut 65 acts against the part 66 of the casing. The oppositeend of the shaft 63 is provided with IOO a shell similar to the shell 62and Withla lock; nut 64. 67 represents a tubular reinforcing# plug, thetransmitter-shaft 3 being hollow and having a similarl plug inserted ateach end.`

The connection of the different parts and the operation of the bearingsWill be understood from the foregoing description.

The operation of the gearsis as follows: When the shaft 1 is turned bymeans ot' the cranks e7, the arm 11 of the gear 2 being resilient willimpart a slight spring action to said gear. This will avoid a jar to therider through the action of the gear-teeth 1,2 with the gear 5. Therollers 14 will be positioned laterally in the fork through contact withthe grooved side of the teeth 12. The balls are thus guided againstfriction with the inside of either arm ofthe fork. It will be seen thatthe wear on the pins 21 will be mainly on one side, being the side uponwhich the teeth 12 approach the rollers 14. After the bicycle has beenused for some time the pins 21 may be given a half-turn, so as toequalize the vwear on same. To turn said pins on the gear 5, it is onlynecessary lo remove the nut 16, so as to free the spider 17 from thegrooved heads of the pins 21. The pins may then be turned and againlocked in position through said spider and nut.. The pins on the gear 6will be turned in similar manner through loosening the spider 25 and thelock-nut 52.

In case any of the balls or rollers 23 should be broken it will be seenthat the pin 21 will still act against the teeth of the intermeshinggear. To replacesuch broken ball, it will only be necessary to removethe spider and draw out the pin. A new ball may then be inserted and thepin and spideragain locked in their former position.

It .will be understood that numerous detailsnot` the device shown may bealt-ered without departing from the spirit of my invention. I thereforedo not @Online myself to such details except hereinafter limited in theclaims.

y What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The combination of a gear-Wheel provided With rigid teeth each havinga groove in its side extending from the free end ofthe tooth toward itsbase, and an intermeshing gear-wheel provided with teeth consisting ofpivotally-rmounted balls arranged to have peripheral contact with saidsides at the grooves, and to rotate in and move lengthwise of thegrooves.

2'. The combination of a gear-wheel provided with rigid teeth inclinedat less than a right angle from the axis of the wheel each having agroove in its side extending from the free end of the tooth toward itsbase, and an interme'shing gear-wheel provided with teeth consisting ofpivotally-mounted balls each having its axis inclined at an angle to theaxis of said intermeshing gear-wheel, said balls being arranged to haveperipheral contact with said sides at the grooves, and to rotate in andmove lengthwise of the grooves.

` 3. A gear-Wheel provided with teeth which consist each of a fork, apin seated therein and a roller mounted on said pin, in combi nationwith a removable spideradapted to engage each of said pins againstrevolution in its fork, substantially as described.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 20th day of February, 1900.

EDWARD L. HOLMES.

Witnesses:

WM. R. RUMMLEE, GLEN C. STEPHENS.

